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FINA to distribute up to 70 per cent of Olympic TV money to national federations

Aquatics - 30 Nov 2017

Author: Callum Murray

FINA, the international swimming federation, is to devote up to 70 per cent of the TV revenues it receives from the International Olympic Committee for swimming’s participation in the Olympic programme, to support national aquatic federations worldwide.

The decision, taken at FINA’s ruling Bureau meeting in Sanya, China today, means that a total of $21.5 million will be distributed in the next four-year period to assist FINA national member federations in the development of their activities.

FINA said: “Called ‘FINA Aquatics Olympic Support’, the budget distributed under this project comes as an addition to the amount already available through the FINA Development Programme - support for the participation in FINA events and prize money - and will be given on an equal share basis.”

As a result, each national federation that participates at the FINA World Championships, FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) or FINA World Junior Championships will be offered up to $25,000 each year to assist in specific projects related to:

• construction, refurbishment or maintenance of facilities;

• purchase or hire of sports material equipment;

• administration fees;

• technology resources (website, online ranking, database);

• technical support;

• preparation and training of athletes, coaches and officials;

• staging and participation at national and continental competitions;

• talent-identification programmes.

FINA said that a dedicated commission “will carefully study and approve the projects submitted by the National Federations in which the value, purpose, viability and quality of the proposals are assessed.”

Julio Maglione, FINA’s president, said: “Considering the top position of FINA in the Olympic Movement, and the decisive contribution and support of our Members to this achievement, we think it’s fair to create a dedicated programme to support their activities and development in the five continents.”

In 2013, swimming and gymnastics joined athletics in the top tier for the distribution of Olympic TV revenues, Group A, having previously occupied the second tier. The ranking is of crucial importance in deciding the total revenues distributed by IOC to international federations in return for their participation in the games, albeit the IOC insists that it is for the Association of Summer International Olympic Federations, not the IOC, to determine the actual amounts awarded to each federation.

The promotion meant that swimming is thought to be receiving about $32 million in the present quadrennial period following the Rio 2016 Olympics, compared with $25 million last time.

Meanwhile, the Bureau also designated host cities for the following competitions: